Overseas Delivery

Communication is really tough when long distance and time difference are both involved. Regardless, the last two large-scale publications for BTM were done and completed. Terribly exhausted but it was done. Uploading them for their printers to download. Here's a preview:

Above: News Magazine

Above: Layout of Gay Man Easts Crocodile Manual

BTM: Behind the Scenes of Doris and Joe

Doris Yee and Joseph Mauriello: Video Diaries
Quick Behind the Scenes of our 2008 Fellowship in Johannesburg, ZA.
Download footage at this link: Video Diaries
(footage was taken with point-and-shoot cameras and not edited in professional software)

BTM Documentary still being digitalized at this point.

[ thank you, south africa ]

My Dear South African Friend,
Thank you for the gift you have given me. While it may not be worth much when you measure this woven basket in rands or dollars, it is of great value. In your words, you said: "I don't have much money but I want to give you the thing I cherish the most." And to this - how it was presented to me - I shall always treasure this token forever. Your name will not be disclosed for you fear family will discover you on the net, and that you've been secretly working for an LGBTI organization.


You are one amongst many South African daughters and sons who cannot open up to mom and dad about your sexual orientation. For that, you have remained silenced and ashamed - you told me you will not get married, even though South Africa legalizes same-sex marriages. You told me because you were raised Christian, you were told you could never marry of the same kind. But dear sir, we are each individuals. Do not deny who you are. Your pregnant mother gave you this woven basket, right? You told me she is the one who would disown you. You fear she would become ill if she were to find out you were gay. You fear something will happen to your unborn baby brother. You are too sweet as to think about her condition. Oh dear friend, a loyal son you are as well. But i'll always keep this basket open, hoping one day you'll come out and stop hiding. Thank you for the gift.


Sincerely,

Doris Yee

I'm going home!

I'm so excited to go home. I've enjoyed my stay here, but there have been a mess of politics and I'm lonesome for home!

While here, I've been able to complete:
- main brochure
- main poster
- newsletter templates
- mock ups for entire website
- education/training catalog
- conference material templates
- e-blast draft

My wrap up items include:
- assistance with website implementation
- newsletter support
- e-blast support
- posters, brochure

I'll be home on Friday!

[ last day onsite ]

Small chats about returning to Johannesburg at a future date to possibly continue onsite work for Behind the Mask have been in the air. Also, there is possibly another developing city project I was introduced to recently (somewhat connected to Constitution Hill) that has intrigued me and possibly well worth the time to keep networking with those external contacts. I'll be in close communication with my NGO - not only for the project tasks already on the agenda, but you never know...they may see me sooner than later.

L to R: Mashilo, Apinda, Thuli, Musa (behind), Jabu, Stanley, Mongezi, Nthateng

Behind the Mask (mising Abeli and minus DK in front...she's from FEW)

Today is the last day doing onsite work for Behind the Mask. It has been a wonderful exchange of our two cultures over the last couple of months and it's a shame time flew by so quickly. I made sure I took some group photos of the organization because they haven't had one since 2005. We got some fun ones in there as well...the only missing puzzle piece was Mr. Mauriello. But we can photoshop you in somewhere.

I fly out tomorrow 07:00 in the evening. Will return to America on Sunday morning.

Designing in Power Point

My NGO does not have any design software. The webmaster has Dreamweaver. I am seriously ashamed.

I've been designing in Illustrator and translating my designs into PowerPoint so that my work can be continued after I leave.

I have 8 more days and I am super anxious to get home!

I will post my progress report soon. Take care, everyone!

Continuing work in New York for MHS

I introduced you to Nurbeik earlier, he is this fascinating Kyrgyz lawyer who is daily on the news and who leads court cases against the government for the lack of transparency in budgets and allocation of funds. He works with MHS as well.

He came last week to DC for a meeting with the International Budget Project (IBP) and this week to New York City for meetings with the Human Rights Watch.

Meanwhile, as I am continuing work for MHS as of New York, I met with Nurbeik to show him the progress that has been made on the presentation I am preparing for MHS.

Together we discussed several issues related to the presentation and he provided me with updates to include. We will continue meetings today and Wednesday.

MHS will use this presentation to advocate for its causes, mainly the budget monitoring program, on the World Mental Health Day on October 10, 2008.

Maria is a Researcher for Europe and Central Asia at the Human Rights Watch in New York City.

All right then, later :)

[ standstill ]

Joe is across the Atlantic now. I'm still here on dry ground. Making a list of things to do while I still can but, sadly, there's just not enough time in the day. Projects, in my opinion, are somewhat at a standstill (not drupal site - fellows get to call 99% of the shots on that one). I've been waiting for confirmations, answers, and materials from internal and external sources for a few days now. it started off a bit frustrating to very frustrating. However, I've dealt with small-teams of grassroots and non-profits before - this type of break in the progression is typical. I was hoping it wouldn't last as long as it has but I've managed to do some other small tasks while in the office. We were hoping to launch some of the near-to-finalized items before I leave, but my gut tells me with the continuation of slow responses and actions, it's not possible.

While I couldn't eat what was braai-ing, looks like Pefo knew what she was doing.

I really enjoy having "Mo" as a roommate. With Mauriello gone, it's just the two of us in this house on top of the hill. He's given me a very youthful but scared perspective on the South African LGBTI community - particularly along the lines of a younger-generation battling with the fears of "coming out" and the public risk of being proactive in the gay and lesbian civil rights movement. We sat in my bedroom last night talking about what he has seen, what he has heard, what's working forward and backward, and lastly a personal outlook on the country and his future. Some individual video interviews were not conducted in the office because of the very fears he has - about being "discovered." I respect this decision.

Last day with MHS

On the last day of my fellowship, the whole team of Mental Health and Society went on a picninc to fascinating Ala-Archa Mountains.
Below is Aidar with one of the 5 watermelons :)


Below: Andrey and Maral,,,

Gladly (for me) the food did not include lamb or lamb's eye and that's because "there is no money for lamb!" Instead we had potatoes, vegetables, canned fish, bread, chicken and very good sweets!
Sophia cannot possibly be my daughter unless I have a child with a blond blond blond German,,, she's the lovely baby daughter of Lilia and Michael who work with the Budget Monitoring Program at MHS.
I was offered a very nice bouquet from the Self-Help Group with whom I worked (the self-help patients). Thank you Mental Health and Society for a fabulous and unforgettable work/experience during six weeks in Kyrgyzstan!


My buddies,,, (below)

Fabulous mountains behind,

Day 1 back in New York - I loved the food in Kyrgyzstan but I missed the American sugared sugared sugared cupcake :))))

[ hamba kahle, manqoba ]

Mauriello will begin his journey back home this evening. It has been a pleasure experiencing South Africa with him and I'm very grateful he was here. Otherwise, who else would have been my bodyguard? "Hamba kahle, Manqoba." Go well and safely, Joe. See you in New York City.

Jupiter, finally

"That one is Jupiter" Jan is looking at the eastern sky at the only bright dot visible in there.
"Holy Crap it is Jupiter! You can see the moons! Check it out" I'm looking through a telescope the size of Doris.
"Oh, that's Jupiter? That's the biggest one?"
"Do you see it's four moons?"
"Yeah"
We went to the planetarium.
It's a dome at the center is an archaic piece of hardware. Cogs, lens, shafts all dance silently remaking the night sky at the twist of a lever.
Cool

[ behind the scenes diary ]

A fun side-project Joe and I have been doing is documenting ourselves here in Joburg (this is different from the recording of BTM members). It's quite amateur - in other words, very random. It's a compilation of discussions snippets about anything from foods, cockroaches, animals, load shedding to how Mauriello and I managed to live with one another as complete opposites. I'll be sure to show all of you when we get back. Too bad the Joburg team don't know or even own final cut pro. While pieced together in your simple iMovie, it's hilarious.

Stillframe: One week in.

Stillframe: One week in.

Stillframe: Four weeks in.

Stillframe: Four weeks in.

Stillframe: Six weeks in.

Stillframe: Seven weeks in.

In Istanbul Airport again,,,

Catching my flight in one hour - New York, here I come!!!!!
Will upload last Kyrgyzstan news tomorrow,,,,

m

[ braai! ]

Even though I'm not leaving for another week, Behind the Mask is throwing a braai (aka barbeque) as a farewell to the "Bonnie and Clyde" team. They've invited others from neighboring organizations that Joe and I have met. I don't really know how big this thing will be but hopefully there will be something I can eat, since meat is no option for me.

cold

"It's sooo cold" It was cold, for South Africa. probably around 11C thats 51F. "I bet it doesn't get this cold in New York."
"Are you kidding? This is nothing, This would be a pleasant autumn day."
She looked at me like what I was saying was joking. "really?" she said it like she didn't believe me, like I was telling a ridiculous lie.
"What? Yeah this is nothing." How could she not know about the cold? Didn't she know anything about snow? "It'll easily be like, 10C cooler in winter and that is on a good day."
"Oh my god, I don't ever want to go there."
"It's not that cold all the time, it can get really warm in the summer, it can reach over 40C" (100F) She thought about that.

[ from the eye of thuli ]

Status: Busy. (I have my do-not-disturb face on)
Thuli calls the below images: Doris-in-action and Joe-in-action.

Doris taking a photo next to South African Police
(who really aren't taken the protest seriously).

Mauriello never wants people to know he's taken their photo.

lately, maral has been...

Lecturing at the AUCA

Filming Tyéléguen for the MHS documentary

Finalizing work

Visiting the Armenian Diaspora, (Armenian flag behind,,,)

Taking pictures of children while they swim in the 43 oC heat in the fountain right next to the Presidential Palace



Hello everyone,

I have been so busy lately as my fellowship will be completed this Thursday evening - so I have been doing toooooo many things to finish as much as possible while still in Bishkek.

We are all continuing our work for our NGOs from New York, and my first meeting will be on July 14 with Nourbeik our lawyer who will be in DC and NY on meetings with the International Budget Project and the Human Rights Watch.

Nourbeik is a superstar in Kyrgyzstan - he is daily on the news fighting whatever establishment or the Parliament itself on the lack of TRANSPARENCY in the allocation of funds etc etc...

So with him I will complete the presentation I have prepared for MHS that they will use while for their presentation on October 10 at the World Mental Health Day.

Also, I gave a lecture at the American University of Central Asia, advocating for my NGO and trying to have Psychology students work as volunteers or interns at the Outpatient Daycare Center.

I completed the English version of the website - I am waiting for all Russian translations that everyone should prepare and send me so that I post that too.

I filmed a small interview and made a short documentary about it and uploaded on the site - with Kyrgyz Folk music in the background during transitions :)

I did many other things too - like melting in the desert heat - it has been 43 degrees Celius here for the past 3 days - I don't know how much that is in Fahrenheit.

I also visited the Armenian Diaspora and discovered that there are 1200 Armenians in Kyrgyzstan, 600 of whom in Bishkek.

Last but not least, on Thursday the whole of MHS is going on a picnic to the mountains. It is in 'my honor' :)))) (around 40 people)
I have been told that the guest of honor in Kyrgyzstan gets to eat the eye of the lamb after it is 'cooked'?!?!?!?!!?

I highly appreciate this, but I am not eating no eye, ok? I am not eating no lamb's eye.

I have been also told that the lamb's eye is only given to 'male' guests of honor - I hope that will be the case.

:))))))

Back to Alex

Doris and I took our second trip into Alexandra, famously one of the poorest townships in Johannesburg. Since it was first settled over 30 years ago it has been the place immigrants end up upon arriving. We left the car to explored the market:



"what's this?"
"It's a rock"
That was an obvious answer of course it was a rock, but why would anyone buy a rock? And that question begs the other: why would anyone sell a rock?
"But what do you do with it?"
"...eat it, some people eat it."
"...oh"
The boy behind the counter walked away at that point.
There was a table with rows and rows of these rocks. They were soft and chalky looking, they had a light brown coloring.
I moved on and wandered into a shop. There I bought a bag to carry all the crap I had purchased over my seven weeks here in South Africa. It was a small plaid bag, it made Doris laugh.
"It's a girls bag, it's a girls..." when Doris says something she finds funny she says it almost twice; it's endearing.
"well it's the only one I like. Plus it says South Africa on it... Besides some of the sexiest men are androgynous, look at Prince."
She shrugged.
I walked out of the store and past several more rock displays, I decided I would buy one. I asked the women behind the table how much one was, she looked at me like I was stupid then replied "1 rand"
"I'll take one"
She laughed.
"What? what are these things?"
"They are rocks."
yes, apparently "...What are they for"
"...some people eat them."
this was annoying "Well, who eats them? and why?"
she blushed at the question and turned to Patrick and started explaining in Zulu or Xhosa; Patrick understands neither.
Patrick looked at me and gave a small shrug.
"what?"
"it's for women."
I got the idea that maybe the rocks purpose was something that was embarrassing to say to a man that you didn't know "Can you tell her?" I pointed to Doris. She only continued to blush.
"well then I'll give it to a women."
She found that really funny and giggled. I handed her a rand and she put the rock in a bag while calling over to her friend in whatever language; they both laughed. The other women leaned over to get a better look at me, she looked at me, then my plaid bag and then back at me. I didn't feel as silly as I probably should have.